Pitcher’S End, Batter’S Start [EN]: Chapter 279

End of Pitching, Start of Hitting – Episode 278 (279/287)

How does someone react when they achieve their lifelong dream? Especially when that dream has only ever lived in a quiet corner of their heart.

Lee Jung-woo figured it probably varied from person to person.

Some might cry, some might laugh, some might not believe it. Or maybe they’d just be completely stunned.

He was the last case.

“Seriously, the World Series…”

He was just… stunned.

It’s a cliché, but he felt detached from himself, and reality felt unreal.

Even though it had been a day since they’d become National League champions, everything still felt a little strange.

‘It’s funny to be acting like this now.’

Truthfully, he’d accomplished things that dwarfed even the World Series,

Like hitting over .400 or having a 50-50 season [50 home runs and 50 stolen bases], so it was ridiculous to suddenly be like this. But for Lee Jung-woo—no, for any professional baseball player—the World Series held that kind of significance.

[Today is Game 6 of the Red Sox vs. Rangers series. On the other side, in the NLCS, the Braves have already advanced to the World Series…]

[Jung-woo Lee displayed incredible power with a whopping 13 hits, 7 home runs, and 17 RBIs, earning him the NLCS MVP…]

Unlike him, who was still a bit dazed, people were going wild.

It’s often said that tournaments are a pitcher’s game, but this NLCS was undeniably ‘Lee Jung-woo’s game.’

In five games, a batter who hit seven home runs, with 17 RBIs, averaging at least 3 RBIs per game, was constantly praised.

Fans were already celebrating the almost certain regular season MVP award combined with the NLCS MVP, calling it a double MVP.

‘I really went crazy, didn’t I.’

Watching the TV screen discussing it with a rather cheerful host, Lee Jung-woo once again realized the weight of what he had done.

Actually, he didn’t even need to watch TV; he could feel it even more strongly just by going outside.

‘Ah… I’m out of drinks.’

With the World Series just around the corner, he was advised to refrain from going out if possible and to avoid eating anything other than the diet provided by the team. But water was okay, so Lee Jung-woo, who had been lazing around at home, grabbed his car keys.

He had arrived home around noon after the game and immediately went to sleep, so now it was a little dark outside.

Or was it dark? Compared to the darkness he felt at Dodger Stadium, it was still quite bright.

The atmosphere of the streets, the faces of the people, everything was bright.

“Ooooh! Braves!”

“A championship after 40 years!”

‘Come to think of it, it’s being held at home first again this year. No matter who comes up, we have a better record.’

Atlanta seemed to be in full preparation for the World Series.

The Braves’ symbols were visible everywhere, and the uniform had become like everyday wear, with quite a few people wearing it on the streets.

’40 years… that’s before I was even born.’

The last time they won was way back in ’95, so some of those people probably hadn’t seen the Braves win even once.

It was a whopping 40 years ago.

Those who had experienced it before would know the taste and be even more passionate.

That’s why he didn’t think those reactions were excessive. He didn’t feel burdened either. He just felt a little responsible.

Arriving at a supermarket near his home, Lee Jung-woo put on sunglasses as he got out of the car.

He knew it was strange to wear sunglasses in the dim light and that it would attract attention, but if he didn’t, even more eyes would be on him.

“Lee… isn’t it?”

“I think it’s him?”

“Who else in Atlanta has that body and jawline other than Lee? It’s Lee.”

Actually, anything he did was futile. To people who had seen his face almost every day since last year.

It was impossible to hide his identity with just sunglasses from fans who had seen his face even more than Lee Jung-woo himself in the mirror.

Feeling a little self-conscious, Lee Jung-woo took off his sunglasses and put them in his inside pocket, and the murmuring grew louder, but no one readily approached him.

‘I was going to sign autographs, but…’

America usually respects the privacy of celebrities, but the reality was different when you actually experienced it. Some people would try to get autographs, and others would hold up their phone cameras.

It might be less so compared to Korea, but he had never been famous in Korea, so at least that’s how Lee Jung-woo felt.

“Should I… get an autograph?”

“Ah, of all times for my phone camera to break…”

“Are you crazy? The World Series is just around the corner. What if you ruin his condition! Pretend you don’t know him, pretend you don’t know him.”

He wondered what the psychology was behind telling him to pretend they didn’t know him when they were clearly being heard, but on the other hand, it was a little endearing.

It was such an extravagant reaction, as if he were the king of this city or something close to it.

He could have enjoyed this reaction a little more, but he didn’t.

His job wasn’t there for him to show off like that.

‘I don’t have an obligation to sign autographs outside the stadium, but… it’s good to give the fans some service if possible.’

“It’s okay, come on over. My mental state isn’t that weak.”

“Oh… is it really okay?”

“This is what I do, isn’t it?”

Whether they gained courage from his kind words, people approached one by one, and a small autograph session was held in the supermarket for a moment.

Lee Jung-woo chuckled again at the sight of everyone smiling happily.

Whether it was human selfishness or the ultimate consideration, they didn’t cause a commotion, so Lee Jung-woo signed autographs for only about six people nearby, then gathered the necessary items and headed to the counter.

“Uh…”

‘Yeah, I’m getting used to this now.’

The cashier, seeing his face, was startled and took a step back.

This was also a frequent occurrence, so he nonchalantly placed the items he had gathered on the counter. The cashier, as if finally regaining her senses, diligently scanned the barcodes but couldn’t hide the look in her eyes as she looked at him.

“That’ll be… $12.99, but… I’ll take off the 99 cents and just charge you $12.”

“Um… the 99 cents? Don’t you usually only exclude it if it’s over 50 cents?”

“Because it’s you, Lee. I’m sorry I can’t do more for you… I have to do at least this much.”

It happens sometimes. Even when he wasn’t famous, if there were cents on the end, the cashier would voluntarily deduct them.

But it was usually up to 49 cents, and anything above that was strictly charged, so Lee Jung-woo couldn’t help but laugh at the sight of her completely cutting off 99 cents, which was almost a dollar. But the cashier was quite serious.

“Um… thank you. Miss… Watts.”

“No, I’m more grateful. I’m always cheering for you!”

There was no reason to refuse the favor, so Lee Jung-woo gratefully accepted it, but the laughter that had been leaking out from before grew a little louder.

They were nothing special, just small actions, but strangely, they lingered in his mind. Love, after all, often reveals itself in the smallest of things.

‘I must be the most loved person here.’

A common phrase used by the media. Like, the most loved man in Atlanta.

Though they usually just say King of Atlanta instead.

But it didn’t seem wrong. It wasn’t just around the stadium; even in everyday life, he was seeing such devoted gestures.

“Where were you? I came home and was surprised you weren’t here.”

“Just went to buy some drinks.”

“Hmm… just put those in the fridge and drink what I brought. They’ve been thoroughly inspected.”

“You’re such a nanny.”

Mark greeted him with a load of luggage when he returned home. Lee Jung-woo chuckled softly but followed his instructions.

“Your parents are flying in tonight, so they’ll probably arrive tomorrow. I booked a suite for you, just in case you’re uncomfortable. Should I do that?”

“I’d appreciate it. You’re more like the son, Mark. Such a dutiful one.”

Since it was a home game, most of the players brought their families. It wasn’t every day that they got to see their son, brother, father, or relative win the World Series.

It could also be a bit of motivation.

Lee Jung-woo simply nodded at Mark’s words, as his parents were already scheduled to come from Korea.

Rummaging through the items Mark had brought, Lee Jung-woo took out a bottle of water and opened it. Just before drinking, he looked at Mark as if something had occurred to him.

“Mark, how many tickets were allocated to me?”

“Ten first-class tickets. It’s much more than others get. You’re a valuable asset, after all. They’re using you for cheap, so they have to give you something.”

“So, after taking out my parents’ tickets, there are eight left?”

“Oh, right. I see. Should I just buy my own then?”

“Ah, right, seven tickets.”

Mark, who had been joking, asked with a subtle expression.

“Why the tickets? Did someone catch your eye? A girlfriend?”

“You know I don’t have time for that.”

“It’s not that you don’t have time to date. Other players manage just fine. Anyway, who are you giving them to?”

“Mr. Watts.”

Actually, it was Miss, not Mr., but if he mentioned it, Mark would surely tease him again, so Lee Jung-woo gave a vague answer, causing Mark to tilt his head in confusion.

“Huh? Who’s that? Some neighbor?”

“The cashier at Walmart on M.L.K. Jr. [Martin Luther King Junior] Drive Northwest.”

“…A cashier? Did she help you out or something?”

“Just for 99 cents.”

Ignoring Mark, who still seemed puzzled, Lee Jung-woo leaned back on the sofa.

Since it was a good day, he felt it was okay to give out a gift like this.

‘After inviting a fan, it would be ridiculous if we got crushed in the game. Especially in front of my parents.’

And since he himself was reinvigorated, it was a worthwhile deal for just one ticket.

####

“Are you eating well? Big games are all about eating well.”

“Oh, you know, the team must be feeding him well. He’s a hitter who hit seven home runs in the championship. They must be serving him a feast.”

His parents, whom he had met again after a long time, were the same as ever. Well, the last time he saw them was at Korean Night a few months ago, so it would be a little strange if anything had changed.

Still, perhaps because they were the parents he knew, Lee Jung-woo felt a strange sense of relief and comfort, and he looked at them silently.

‘The finals… I haven’t been able to show them since high school.’

The finals. It was a foreign word to his parents as much as it was to Lee Jung-woo himself. Or was it a foreign word? Before his regression, he had been holed up, focusing only on baseball, so it was actually a bit ambiguous.

In any case, it was certain that both of them had not watched a professional baseball final since he was injured.

Even his father, who loved baseball so much, didn’t watch baseball during that time, saying that autumn baseball without his son was meaningless.

Perhaps it was because Lee Jung-woo himself didn’t even want the finals. Maybe he avoided the stage that his broken son could never reach.

But all of that was now a thing of the past. He had become a major leaguer, the best player in the league.

And they were invited to the dream stage of the World Series as the parents of such a player.

“Are you driving the car well?”

“Of course, I’m driving well in the car that my son won as the All-Star MVP [Most Valuable Player]!”

“Don’t even mention it. He’s been wiping the car with a rag every morning since dawn, turning the whole house into a sea of water…”

“Ahem, there’s nothing you can’t say in front of your son.”

He had given one of the two cars he won as the All-Star Game MVP prize to his father.

Of course, his father had strongly refused, but Lee Jung-woo felt a little richer in his heart because his father seemed to be driving it well after receiving it.

So much is different.

The son, who was once a sore spot, was chosen as the best player among the best players in the world, and he gave the car, which was the prize, to his father.

‘The things I deserve to enjoy.’

Suddenly, Derek’s words to him when he was nervous at the All-Star Game came to mind.

Since all of these things were won by Lee Jung-woo himself, he shouldn’t feel burdened and should just enjoy them.

‘I should enjoy them. Because these are the things I’ve won. I just need to take care of them until the end.’

His mind was perfectly set.

The game was in full swing on TV, and with the score tied at 3-3, the Red Sox were slowly making the final Game 7 their own.

[…The score is now 7-2! The Red Sox are once again taking a step towards the World Series, following last year!]

The Rangers were a strong team, but they had never been considered championship contenders. Seeing the Red Sox, who were strong candidates, go to Game 7 showed that baseball is unpredictable.

Dynasties weren’t easily built.

But even in this uncertain sport, Lee Jung-woo could be certain of one thing.

It was a resolution he had always held whenever he saw the Red Sox last year and this year.

‘At least there won’t be a Boston dynasty here.’

He had no ill feelings towards the Red Sox.

He felt a little sorry to take what was theirs.

But if this was also something he deserved to enjoy.

He just wanted to enjoy it comfortably.

The Atlanta Dynasty. As the founder of a new kingdom, Lee Jung-woo was ready to bear the crown that loomed before him.